Scriptural
Studies
The Lord's Supper, Symbol or Ritual?
Are we asked to remember a Ritual or the Lord Himself?
By Nab & J.B.
March 26, 2017
( updated Sep 4, 2025 )
(This research paper was written with the tireless help
of my late beloved wife J.)
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"Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thess 5:21) is the counsel given by Paul regarding any teaching. Would you be willing to test what has been taught and practiced in Christianity regarding the "Lord's Supper"?
Is the "Lord's supper" a continual ritual or strictly symbolic and nothing more? What did Jesus mean by saying, "Do this in remembrance of Me"?
In this article, I share what is revealed to me. I don't expect you to believe (though I wish), but at least, I urge you to examine it by the spirit, scripture, and reason on your own.
The Lord’s Supper is always
a Spiritual Meal
In the Lord's Supper account (Matt 26; Luke 22), Jesus and his disciples were eating a regular Passover meal just like any other time. He was not performing or instituting a ritual! During eating, He used the bread and wine available ( as fitting symbols ) of a spiritual "new covenant".
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples...and he took the cup, ...and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it." (Matt 26:26-27)
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God's table is spiritual. The cup and the bread are a spiritual participation (not a ritual) in the blood and the body of Christ to feed true believers.
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?... You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons." (1 Cor 10:16, 21) ESV
"For we, being many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partakers of that one loaf" (1 Cor 10:17)
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The parable of God’s great Supper refers to a spiritual supper prepared especially for Gentiles (spiritual poor, maimed, lame, and blind). Jesus Christ is the meal God offers for all to feed on.
“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.' But they all, with one accord, began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still, another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
"So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.'
"Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 'For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'" (Luke 14:15-24)
This saying shocked them!
"Eat my Body and Drink my Blood"
Most of the verbs found in John 6:25-68 point to a continual or habitual action, namely: Daily feeding on Christ's spiritual body.
Here's a sample from the Concordant NT Translation:
"I am the Bread of life. He who is coming to Me should under no circumstances be hungering, and he who is believing in Me will under no circumstances ever be thirsting." (John 6:36)
"I am the living Bread which descends out of heaven. If anyone should be eating of this Bread, he shall be living for the eon." (John 6:51)
"He who is masticating My flesh and drinking My blood has life eonian." (John 6:54)
"To eat flesh and drink blood" was so shocking to the people. Why was it shocking? Because they interpreted his speech unspiritually. To correct them, he said,
“The words I speak are spirit and life. The flesh (unspiritual understanding) benefits nothing.” (John 6:63)
Why the Analogy of Food and Drink
Food and drink are needed every day, by every human, several times a day. Likewise, all true believers feed spiritually on Christ "every day" and "as often" for their spiritual nourishment and survival.
As literal food becomes part of the human body, our spiritual food, Jesus Christ, becomes part of our spiritual being. This is how we are changed day by day:
“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord [Christ], are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Cor 3:18 ESV)
The Meaning of
"In Remembrance of Me"
Was Jesus saying to remember a Ritual or to remember Him? He advised to "remember him", not a ritual,
“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come... this do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:18-19)
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Do we remember Christ once in a while or all the time? Paul quoted Jesus Christ saying:
“For as often as [Gk., ‘hosakis’, as many times] you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes." (1 Cor 11:26) NKJV
Jesus instructed us to feed on him continually. It would be silly if we think of partaking of the bread and wine as often as we can!
To feed on Christ's body is to follow and obey his teachings and commandments daily, out of love. To drink his cup is to suffer with him, die to self, and serve others. It would not be enough to remember Jesus only occasionally through a ritual!
"Drinking It in A New Way"
Please note these 3 parallel accounts speaking of partaking of Christ's spiritual meal in a new way:
“I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
“I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” (Luke 22:18)
Jesus did not mean he'd be back to observe more Passovers! Ceremonial Passover ceased at the cross. Christ now is our true passover, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." (1 Cor 5:7)
"I will drink it anew with you," is Jesus' way of saying he now shares his new spiritual nature with all true believers through the Holy Spirit.
A casual reading of the NT proves that that has been the case until now. This is the "new way" Jesus feeds all of us:
The Spirit of Christ teaches and guides:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come... That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15)
"I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)
The Spirit dwells in them:
“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1Cor 3:16)
The Spirit is a source of revelation, wisdom, and power:
“I keep asking that God...may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Eph 1:17-20)
“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1Cor 2:10,11)
The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers:
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good...All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
The Spirit is the seal in the lives of believers:
“Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)
The Spirit helps in our weakness and intercession:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities...the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us...” (Romans 8:26-27).
The Spirit produces spiritual fruits in them:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance...If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal 5:22-25)
What About First Corinthians 11:18-34?
( Not what you think! )
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul was dealing with behavioural problems among the Corinthians.
We believe Paul was not explaining how to celebrate the Lord’s Supper! He was rebuking the brothers for their behaviour when fellowshipping.
Paul advised that when they fellowship, they should partake spiritually of the body of Christ as the Lord had instructed.
Rather than eating in their homes, there was drunkenness and gluttony when the Corinthians met for fellowship. They never even bothered to share meals with other poor and hungry brothers. They seem to have come for a good time instead of sharing and bonding in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Problems
from a literal interpretation
of the Lord's Supper
Problem One
What if a believer wishes to partake of the bread and the wine every day or even several times a day? How much bread and wine can one handle? Can one become glutenous or drunk as a result? A literal interpretation is problematic! The Lord's Supper isn't a ritual meal.
"The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom 14:17) NKJV
Problem Two
Are those partaking daily, somehow better than those partaking monthly or annually? Again, a problem arises from a literal application rather than a spiritual one! Christ never set specific days or festivals!
"Let no man... judge you ... in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." (Col 2:16)
Problem Three
The Problem of dogmatism can arise when believers give more weight to religious rituals. This can happen when the symbol is given more importance than the substance! While some rituals are not wrong in themselves, they can hinder or blind believers if adhered to without recognizing their reality.
Rituals can be especially wrong if one insists that others must follow them.
“Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you...with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col 2:16-17) ESV
“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.” (Heb 10:1) NASB
Jesus Rejected Rituals
Sadly, Israel viewed their sacrificial system as nothing more than a RITUAL! Unlike them, Jesus broke away from rituals and unnecessary traditions that dishonoured his Father. He rebuked the Pharisees, saying,
“Thus making void the word of God by your traditions that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:13)
How did Jesus break away from unnecessary traditions and rituals? Here's a partial list:
He healed on the Sabbath.
He plucked and ate on the Sabbath.
He did not do ritual washings.
He did not condemn adulterous women!
He did not glorify his own family.
He forfeited marriage and family.
He associated with sinners.
He spoke openly to women.
He allowed women to follow Him.
He accepted Jews and Gentiles alike.
Based on Jesus' way of thinking and character, it is difficult to imagine that He would want His followers to keep a religious ritual (or ceremony) just so they can prove their appreciation for his awesome sacrifice!
Church Communion
Does Nothing!
Communion as practiced in Churches today is nothing more than a RITUAL of eating a tiny piece of bread and sipping some wine. What does it do? In itself, it does NOTHING to seriously change one’s character or make one closer to Jesus Christ, which ought to be a believer's goal.
Rituals are easier and convenient to follow than full obedience to Christ. They are easier than daily praying, reading, meditating, studying, and "walking by the faith". (2 Cor 5:7)
All traditions and ceremonies in Israel have become spiritual realities under the New Covenant. Here's a short list:
The Passover is Jesus Himself (1 Cor 5:4-8)
The Circumcision is of the heart (Rom 2:29)
The Temple of God is the body of Christ (1 Cor 3:16)
New Jerusalem is the City of God (Gal 4:26)
Our Sabbath is Christ (Matt 12:8)
Today, we submit to the "Law of the Spirit of Life.” (Rom 8:2) We no longer walk in the flesh or rituals and traditions. We are "led by the Spirit." (Rom 8:14) “We regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have regarded Christ according to flesh, yet now we regard Him thus no longer.” (2 Cor 5:16) BLB
True worshippers do not worship in a specific place or a particular way. They don't follow mandated religious rituals or traditions. "The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth." (John 4:21-24)
Realistically, physical ritual (the Lord's Supper or others) can not make one fully spiritual. Though they may appear to "have a form of godliness," they lack the power of the Spirit! (2 Tim 3:5)
What to do Now!
I can't tell anyone what to do. It’s entirely up to the individual! It is crucial to understand what Christ did that night. He offered his body for a sacrifice. Now, his risen "life-giving spirit" spiritually feeds all his true believers.
This might help decide whether to follow a symbolic ritual or the real thing:
A symbol can never be greater than what it symbolizes.
A wedding ring can never be greater than the marriage itself.
A child’s photo can never equal the child's!
Under the Old Covenant, all rituals and ordinances were only “A shadow (a symbol or type) of things to come; but the body (the reality) is of Christ.” (Col 2:17)
When one partakes daily of the "Bread of Life", Jesus Christ, one will always be nourished. There is no ritual, however delightful and established, that can compare with Jesus Christ! "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38)